A Dublin man has been sentenced to eight years for stabbing his friend in the stomach and chest leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Not even a missing spike key could deter Mary Cullen from dominating the Woodie’s DIY Inter Club Cross Country Championships in Charleville Estate in Tullamore yesterday.

Fionnuala Britton was already looking to the future after yesterday’s sensational performance at the European Cross-Country Championships in snowy Budapest.

Fionnuala Britton and Joe Sweeney, fresh from impressive performances over the weekend, form a strong backbone to the Irish team for the European Cross-Country Championships to be held near Budapest on Sunday week.

There are a number of new faces in the Sligo football panel that is preparing for the new season under manager Kevin Walsh.

Irish hopes of a medal from the European track and field championships in Helsinki were dashed on the final day when leading hope Fionnuala Britton finished fourth in the women’s 10,000m in 32:05.54, over half a minute outside the time which qualified her for the Olympic Games on her debut over the distance.

It was pain in the rain for Ireland on the penultimate night of the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki - both 4x400m relay squads were disqualified, while eighth place was the best return from the four Irish finalists.

Three Irish Championship debutants were shown the harsh realities of stepping up to a senior international Games in this morning’s action at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki.

Sligo manager Kevin Walsh has selected a strong team to face New York in Sunday's Connacht SFC quarter-final at Gaelic Park (throw-in 3pm local time/8pm Irish time).

JOE SWEENEY goes into tomorrow’s Woodies DIY national inter-county cross-country championships overwhelming favourite to retain the title he won in Derry last year.

TUBBERCURRY almost upset the odds in Group Two of the Sligo SFC but ended up drawing with their south Sligo rivals and last year’s county finalists, Tourlestrane, 0-10 to 0-10, at Curry yesterday evening.

Wicklow 1-18 Sligo 0-16

Sligo manager Kevin Walsh has announced his team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier against Wicklow in Aughrim (throw-in 5pm).

Experienced forward Mark Breheny will be on the Sligo bench for Sunday's Connacht SFC quarter-final against Leitrim at Markievicz Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Sligo sharpshooter David Kelly will be sidelined for his county's Connacht SFC quarter-final clash with Leitrim on Sunday week.

Antrim 1-11 Sligo 2-18

Sligo 0-08 Derry 0-11

THE star of Ireland’s U23 team which claimed gold at the European cross-country championships in Albufeira yesterday predicts this title will be the catalyst for senior glory.

SEAMUS POWER has been named as a reserve on the senior men’s team for the European cross-country championships but said last evening that he won’t be going.

WITH Ciarán Ó Lionáird committed to competing and David McCarthy set to return from Providence, the task of putting together a medal winning under-23 team for the European cross-country championships should be completed on Sunday at the Woodies DIY national inter-county cross-country championships at Gransha Park, Derry.

HIS sensational victory in last Saturday’s South Regional Cross-Country Championships in Hoover, Alabama will send Corkman Ciarán Ó Lionáird into Monday’s NCAAs among the medal favourites.

CIARÁN O LIONÁIRD feels that the Irish under-23s are ready to compete for the team gold medals at next month’s European Cross-Country Championships in Albufeira.

CIARÁN Ó LIONÁIRD (Leevale AC) finished a close-up fourth in the tough ACC Conference meet at Franklin Park, Boston, where less than four seconds separated the top four finishers.

ALISTAIR CRAGG will get his place on the Irish senior men’s team for the SPAR European cross-country championships if he proves his fitness in tomorrow’s 5k road race in San Jose.

THE Irish teams for the next month’s Spar European Cross-Country Championships in Dublin are due to be announced today. But team manager, Anne Keenan-Buckley confirmed yesterday the senior men’s team will not be finalised until after Thursday.

The trial of two young men charged with murder collapsed in the Central Criminal Court today after the prosecution entered a Nolle Prosequi on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions

A 17-year-old boy charged with the murder of a man in Dublin last summer was served with a book of evidence today and has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy charged with the murder of a man in Dublin last summer has been remanded on continuing bail until next week when he is to be served with the book of evidence in the case.

Two young men were today arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a man in Dublin earlier this month.

A MAN underwent emergency surgery yesterday after he was shot three times in the leg.

A young man and woman were arrested today in connection with the death of a man in Dublin after an alleged assault.

GARDAÍ are expected to make arrests in connection with the savage murder of a man earlier this month.

A post mortem is due to be carried out today on the body of a man who died on Saturday after an alleged assault in Dublin earlier this month.

A 35-year-old man who was the victim of an alleged assault in Dublin earlier this month has died in hospital.

Athletics Ireland today announced a 36-strong team for the European Cross Country Championships which take place on December 9 in Toro, Spain.

HOT Press magazine has come under fire for using a graphic picture of a priest masturbating.